American man-of-war which happened to be stationed there ... "But one day, in the 'cool weather,' there would come a sudden change. Our clipper friends had men aloft, bending sails ... and all readiness was made for sea. About noon the great covered chop-boats came down the stream, with immense chattering of men and all sorts of fuss ... Stages were rigged, and the chests and half-chests came on board and were stowed away like magic, for the ship's capacity had been exactly measured beforehand, and each chest or half-chest fitted into place like a piece in a Chinese puzzle. These large ships were thus loaded in a few hours. Each chest had two slips of bamboo ... As they came over the gangways one slip was seized by an officer of the vessel, the other by a Chinese comprador, and thus 'tally' was kept. The crew of the vessel had no need to go into the hold, the Chinese stevedores made all snug; and then the hatches were put on and the hatch-covers well battened down, while, without delay, sail was made, the anchor weighed, and the Chinese pilot took charge to get her ... to sea as soon as possible; for in no business was time more synonymous with money than in the race with the 'new crop.' "It was a sight to see the handling of those ships as they "backed and filled" and tided down the Reaches, sometimes almost grazing the quarter of a vessel at anchor; and, again, just escaping the tail of a mud-bank, while the grizzled old pig-tailed pilot took his bearings, squinted aloft, and in his own pidgeon-English said, 'Haul down jib! ... Shiver the mizzen-topsail! Throw her flat aback!' Loss of the ship On June 12, 1891, on a voyage from Dublin to Quebec with a cargo of timber, she was abandoned at sea at 46° N, 40°W. The crew of 17 left the ship in boats, and was picked up by the bark Gulnare. On October 18, 1891, the barque Ardgowan sighted Sea Serpent at 45°N, 24°W. She drifted in 93 days, and was sighted 19 times before disappearing. References Further reading External links Sea Serpent - Stag Hound, The Era of the Clipper Ships Captain Jacob D. Whitmore, died at sea on Sea Serpent, 1860 A Day at St. Helena, excursion of three Sea Serpent passengers Progress – kanskje